BIKE: Avoiding responsibility

[Librik or Babich]

Michael Bluejay wrote:

> On Mar 23, 2005, at 2:14 PM, sarah myers <sa_rahrah> wrote:
> > Anyway, the cop showed up at the trauma room to tell
> > me that I broke the law since I did not have a
> > headlight on my bike but I told him that wasnt fair
> > becasue she didnt stop at the stop sign.  I didnt have
> > a stop sign.  Now I'm afraid that her insurance
> > company wont pay.  Can you tell me what rights i have
> > as a bicyclist that was injured by a car in an
> > accident?

For what it is worth, some years ago, in Texas, my grandmother was
seriously injured in a car crash when my grandfather pulled out of a
driveway, at night, in front of a car approaching with no lights on. In
this case, my grandfather was ruled at fault because he did not yield right
of way, and it did not matter that the other car did not have its lights
on.

If it is necessary, I can try to track down this case, which happened
probably 20 years ago in Houston. This would set a precedent that the
non-yielding driver is at fault for the collision, although the cyclist
could still be fined for not having a headlight.


--
Mike Librik, LCI #929
Easy Street Recumbents
512-453-0438
45th and Red River St., thereabouts
Central Austin
info
www.easystreetrecumbents.com
www.urbancycling.com

"Is it about a bicycle?"